Carmina Burana
featuring the Portland Symphonic Choir
Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. & Sunday, September 28, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.*
Skyview Concert Hall, 1300 NW 139th St, Vancouver, WA 98685
*Sunday, September 28 is SOLD OUT!
We feature the Portland Symphonic Choir in the first symphonic performance of the 2025/26 season. The program opens with five dramatic orchestral interludes from operas by Pietro Mascagni, including Cavalleria Rusticana, L’amico Fritz, Guglielmo Ratcliff, Isabeau, and Iris. Composed between 1889 and 1911, these operas tell a variety of stories with central themes of revenge, love, death, and freedom. During the glorious Inno al sole (Hymn to the Sun) from Iris, the chorus personifies the rising sun in an otherwise tumultuous story. The opening, quiet passage builds to luminous and joyful music for the full orchestra as the chorus exclaims the final words, Calore, Luce, Amor!, Amor! (Warmth, Light, Love!, Love!).
In the second half of the program, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Portland Symphonic Choir will perform Carl Orff’s most famous masterwork, Carmina Burana. The Carmina Burana is a collection of 13th-century poems that were originally compiled in Benediktbeuern, Germany, and served as the source of lyrics for this work. Combined with simple yet colorful harmonies, Orff’s musical style echoes that of Stravinsky. Listeners note his preference for dramatic percussive effects that accompany accents within the text, creating a new setting for these 700-year-old lyrics.
The 2025/26 Symphonic Series season is presented by United Grain Corporation.
ABOUT THE PORTLAND SYMPHONIC CHOIR
Established in 1945, the Portland Symphonic Choir has carried out this mission for almost eight decades: “To sing choral masterworks with excellence and passion and to engage, educate, and inspire its members and the community.” With a notable reputation and long-standing commitment to the Pacific Northwest, our 100-person chorus includes musicians, students, retirees, and an assortment of working professionals. A central figure in the legacy of choral music in Portland, the Choir achieves excellence in musicianship, celebrates community through music, builds a sustainable musical legacy, and curates an inclusive musical space.
Under the direction of Artistic Director Dr. Alissa Deeter since 2019, the Portland Symphonic Choir continues a reputation of excellence and dedication by creating powerful and accessible choral experiences for all music enthusiasts. Dr. Deeter has prepared the chorus for concerts and major works with ensembles including Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Oregon Festival Orchestra, and in concert with Andrea Bocelli. Additionally, the Portland Symphonic Choir has a long history of commissioning and premiering new works. One way the Choir highlights new choral music is with our Summer Sings New Works series and recording project.
PROGRAM:
Mascagni Intermezzi:
Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana
L'amico Fritz
Guglielmo Ratcliff
Isabeau
Inno al sole from Iris*
INTERMISSION
Orff Carmina Burana*
*Portland Symphonic Choir
PRE-CONCERT TALK:
An hour before each performance, 6 PM on Saturday and 2 PM on Sunday, all ticket holders will enjoy an educational pre-concert talk from VSO's Music Director and Conductor Salvador Brotons. Don’t miss this special opportunity to learn all about the history of the music that will follow!
All ticket holders will receive a secure email link in order to access the live stream performances.
Our tech support team will be available to assist you if you encounter any issues logging in during the performances.
Tickets
- Available below or by calling (360) 735-7278
- All current season ticket holders will receive a secure email link in order to access live-stream of the performances
- Single tickets to view the live-stream are on sale now. A secure individualized email link will be emailed to each single ticket buyer.
- Our tech support team will be on standby to assist you if you have any issues logging in during the performances.
How to View the Livestream Performance
Viewing the online concert is very easy.
- Purchase tickets to receive the livestream link and password.
- When it is time for the concert, log in to the live streaming event page by clicking the "Live Concert Link" above and view the concert from anywhere with a computer and internet connection.
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Da Capo
Hosted by Greg Scholl and Ashley Johnson, this exciting pre-show will broadcast on the VSO concert live stream 30 minutes before the concert performance. Full of fascinating information about the repertoire and plenty of laughs, you won’t want to miss it!
Ashley Johnson
Ashley Johnson has been with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra since October of 2019. Since December of 2019 she has been the host and producer of The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Podcast, interviewing prominent VSO figures and guests as well as sharing past VSO performances in the special series VSO Encore. Ashley graduated from Western Washington University in 2013 with a degree in English Literature, and has been active in the Vancouver arts community for over 15 years. She was formerly the music director for the Young Slocum House Players in 2011, and was on the Board of Pacific Stageworks Theater Company from 2019-2023.
Outside of saying flowery things about recordings of classical music Ashley co-hosts a film podcast, produces independent films, and spends time with her daughter Imogen and her husband Will (the superhero who keeps Skyview Concert Hall running).
Greg Scholl
Greg Scholl has played trombone in the VSO since 1993 - he became principal trombone in 1995. He is also principal trombone in the Portland Columbia Symphony and the Newport Symphony. Greg also plays locally in the Portland Brass Quintet and the Portland Festival Symphony. He has performed with the Oregon Ballet Theater, the Oregon Symphony, the Portland Opera, the Salem Chamber Orchestra, the Portland Chamber Orchestra, the Portland Symphonic Choir, the Willamette Master Chorus, and the Portland Gay Men's Chorus. He has performed with the Oregon Repertory Singers and the Portland Symphonic Choir. Greg was formerly second trombone in the Austin Lyric Opera.
Greg is the trombone and low brass instructor at Pacific University. He obtained a trombone performance degree at the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Donald Knaub. Prior to that he studied with Peter Kline and David Brown in San Antonio, TX. Greg plays in the Portland modern jazz duo Dos Hermanos de Hale Bopp. He also plays guitar and trombone in a variety of styles with local bands and performers such as the Rhythm Dogs, Goombahttsi, and Elvis Presley Tribute Artist Justin Shandor.
After rejecting the millions of dollars people offered him to play the trombone, Greg obtained a law degree in 1995 from Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law. During most business days he can be found practicing law as the director of the capital case team at the Metropolitan Public Defender. He enjoys spending time with his family and dogs, reading, camping and hiking, collecting things like Conan the Barbarian comic books, LP records, and concert recordings of the Grateful Dead, and being married to incredible principal bassoonist Margaret McShea. Their son Ben is now in college - he was practically raised at VSO rehearsals back in the day.